[Matt MacIver]

When I first read the title I immediately thought of #9, not because it's crazy remarkable but because it was "all right there in front of me" -- for the first time in the round.  Capitalizing on it by driving the green was all the more special. 

#9 really? I would have figured that would be the consensus least liked hole on TOC.  Did you really not like some of the blindness on the front nine that much?

David - I knew there'd be some, but not that much.  So I was surprised when I came to #9...I guess that's what I meant when I said I initially mis-read the thread title, what was my first "surprise"? 

Am now trying to think what hole I liked the most when I first played TOC.  I'm trying to answer the question from the perspective of "I just walked off the course, am in the Dunvegan, and what hole am I craving to play again?" Not sure I "liked" and more than some others; I wanted to play #11 again because I flew the green!

[Pete_Pittock]

Peter

Spelling error it should of course read Swilken or can be Swilkan from the 1930's Uni photo or it can be spelt Swilkin from the 1836 Chalmers course map. But to most to us its Swilken. Blame the spelling error with either i or a on to the West Coast players who had a wee problem with Swilken after a dram or two.

Melvyn

Melvyn,
I was referring to Silken without the W, yet Silken Burn does have a nice ring to it if the washmaids had some royal or clerical clients.

[Dave McCollum]

14.  Best par 5 I've ever played.

[Ed Brzezowski]

The fifth, drive, 5 wood and 2 putt from 85 yards. You gotta love an 85 yard putt when the caddy says "one ball right".

[Bill McKinley]

Tough question.  I kind of knew what i was getting into with 17 and a little bit of 14, but 13 to me was awesome!  I hadn't heard much about it but there's so much strategy there.  Amazing hole!  I had the best "feeling" after busting my tee shot on #17 and then ended up having to putt off the road when I got greedy with my 2nd, but looking back on it, 13 was such a good hole and I had no idea about it before I played.

That is the beauty of the Old Course!

[Bill_McBride]

Tough question.  I kind of knew what i was getting into with 17 and a little bit of 14, but 13 to me was awesome!  I hadn't heard much about it but there's so much strategy there.  Amazing hole!  I had the best "feeling" after busting my tee shot on #17 and then ended up having to putt off the road when I got greedy with my 2nd, but looking back on it, 13 was such a good hole and I had no idea about it before I played.

That is the beauty of the Old Course!

13 is very cool because it's the only hole where you can't play an approach along the ground.   All that broken ground out in front makes you fly an approach into the green.  Great hole indeed and don't ask me how pitiless that deep bunker green side right is.    

[Philippe Binette]

hole no 3

wedge in hand, pin behind the bunker and its 7-foot high wall

my heart was pumping like crazy, from 120 yards out... never seen that before

[Mike Nuzzo]

On the first hole I played at the Old Course I wound up in the Road hole bunker!  We were playing it backwards.  I think that's cool enough for me.

[Alex Lagowitz]

For me my favorite hole was number 11, only because I had studied GCA for a long time and it was awe-inspiring to step up to the High-In (eden) hole, estuary in the background, wind in the face, pin just over Strath.  I hit a knockdown that landed pin high, rolled up the bank and almost came back down into the hole.  My caddy reminded me about 5 times that Bobby Jones made a 10 and ripped up his scorecard and walked off the course.  I happily reminded my caddie that I beat him by 8 shots.

[Gary Slatter]

the first time, Hole 1. 
after many rounds, 1, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18   all for different reasons as all have different ways to kick you in the nuts, or reward your effort.
11 is as good a par three anywhere
12 I never found it a challenge, and I never layed up
17 is my all time toughest par

[Andy Shulman]

Another vote for #16.  The wall...er...dyke running the length of the hole along the right scared the *$#@ out of me, but that's a big part of what I like about the hole; that it really tests your nerve.  OK, so my approach landed closer to the pin on #2 than for #16, but at least I was on in regulation!

[Kyle Henderson]

13 was the pleasant surprise, but 17 still wins by a nose for me.

[Kevin Pallier]

11 despite writing a 5 on the scorecard

[BCrosby]

Regarding the comment that no holes on the front are being chosen, several years ago Tom Doak picked the 2nd at TOC as one of his favorite holes anywhere. He gave a longish description of its features in one of Daly's books. (I've forgotten the title.) Perhaps Tom will chime in.

There are lots of great holes at TOC, but the 2nd and the 12th deserve to be ranked up there with the more famous ones.

Bob

[Bill_McBride]

Regarding the comment that no holes on the front are being chosen, several years ago Tom Doak picked the 2nd at TOC as one of his favorite holes anywhere. He gave a longish description of its features in one of Daly's books. (I've forgotten the title.) Perhaps Tom will chime in.

There are lots of great holes at TOC, but the 2nd and the 12th deserve to be ranked up there with the more famous ones.

Bob

Agreed on number 2.  The first time I saw that green with the wild moguls, it was literally like nothing I'd ever seem before on a golf course!

[JESII]

I haven't played TOC but it strikes me that the answer to this question may deliver more holes than any other course...is that reasonable or just me dreaming of the chance to play there?

Does any other course have nearly as many "favorite hole" candidates?

[Shane Wright]

I haven't played TOC but it strikes me that the answer to this question may deliver more holes than any other course...is that reasonable or just me dreaming of the chance to play there?

Does any other course have nearly as many "favorite hole" candidates?

I think that Pacific Dunes potentially offers the same number of holes that could be considered a "favorite"

[BCrosby]

Jim -

There are other courses that have lots of 'favorite holes'. For me, ANGC is one. North Berwick and Cuscowilla (talk about under-rated courses) also come to mind. Other folks will choose other courses.

Your larger point is a good one. Picking your favorite holes at TOC is like picking your favorite Beatles song. When the overall quality is so extraordinary, singling out your or my favorite is a pretty silly exercise.

Bob

 

[Anthony Gray]

Regarding the comment that no holes on the front are being chosen, several years ago Tom Doak picked the 2nd at TOC as one of his favorite holes anywhere. He gave a longish description of its features in one of Daly's books. (I've forgotten the title.) Perhaps Tom will chime in.

There are lots of great holes at TOC, but the 2nd and the 12th deserve to be ranked up there with the more famous ones.

Bob

Agreed on number 2.  The first time I saw that green with the wild moguls, it was literally like nothing I'd ever seem before on a golf course!

  2 is a good choice. It also gives you a look at 17 and provides the first double green. Very memeroble the first time.

  Anthony

 

[Scott Macpherson]

I remember being told as a boy that I wouldn't remember in time the words people had used for or against me, but I would remember how a person made me feel. I have the same recollections of my first round on TOC. As much as I had studied it, at the end of the round (and much later) I don't remember what I thought of the individual holes, but I remember how they made me feel. As I reminisce about it now, the strongest memories are still standing on the first tee under the gaze of the R&A clubhouse, and playing up the 18th hole home. The memories are inscribed on the walls of my golfing mind.

[Mark Woodger]

17. drive, 3iron 1 putt from 25ft. solid birdie!

but more importantly the whole course is great. you have such wonderful emotions as you walk around the course and back up 18 as you walk towards the town. I felt i was fortuante as i played it in april 2009 and they had already set up some of the grandstands for The Open which added to the enjoyment as you could visualise walking there in the last group on the Open Sunday!!

[Ed Brzezowski]

The more i read everyones' posts the more i realize what a treat the entire course and town deliver. I have played it four times and it is one of the few courses where i can remember almost every shot and almost every beer and smile afterward. Last trip we even got into the R and A. What a blast. I always thought 9 and 10 were easy until my friend took 10 lashes at the ball to escape the bunker on 10. Finally tossing it out by hand. There really isn't a weak hole on the course, one errant drive and the fun and games begin. Cannot wait to get back.

[Joel_Stewart]

16.

I want to see the guy who picks a hole on the front nine.

Ciao

The 9th. Drove it on, made the putt for eagle.

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